Our long journey: a figure 8 through europe

We found ourselves on the side of the road at a gas station with 6 mechanics and no gas. Coincidently, I locked both our car keys and our jackets in the car. This is how the journey began, with James and I running around a random Bosnian hamlet looking for a metal coat hanger and Paul waiting patiently on the side of the road with little than a t-shirt on in the frost. 1 hour later we were back in the car with no aid of the mechanics and only Paul's clever hand and James' street fighter wit.
Stop number two : Zagreb for some sausage at a market. Then our first night sleeping on the side of the road in Kitty. Bundled up in layers of warmth we slept cozily into the morning, and wound up the next day in Vienna.

They sell Poopsicles all over the place in Vienna. Paul would be a hit!!!

Poncho Paul and his Gang

The Coffee in Bosnia is strong enough to stop your heart but it comes served ever so beautifully on these wonderful copper sets.











Last week we played the Canadian edition of Canium with some American friends. We were out of play dough so we some soft cheese instead. Fun was had by all as the wine kept being poured.




Do these Ponchos look familiar? We discovered them at the Jenkins old residence. Thinking they were little fleecy blankets we look them home only to later realize their multi purposes uses. Now we make our guest wear them for warmth and style. Sorry little nieces you’re not getting these back.

In the thick of the Fog

Up above our house the mountain looks beautiful. It's only about a ... 1 hour walk up. Look down below, yes indeed we are living in a huge cloud. The whole valley of Sarajevo and area has been in this cloud for about a week. No planes are landing or taking off. Everything is moving in slow motion and everyone's mood matches the grumpiness of the fog. It's like living at a highschool dance... when they put on those wretched smoke machines to make Stairway to heaven more unbarable for all of it's award 25 minute lengh. I guess Paul and I will just have to keep on dancing.
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A Differnt Perspective

Look again. Bosnia and Herzegovina has absolutely no fast food chains, although it tries it's best to bring western charm to it's eating establishments. Hamby King looks just like Burger Kinger, however, the food is subpar. Whomever thought it was a good idea to put cabbage into a cheese buger was an idiot. Plus they do not serve fountain pop, but rather a measly glass of coke that tastes like rust. The lady behind the counter seemed confused and totally uninterested when we wanted to pay at the till. Thinking we were honest folk she brought out our meal on cute plastic trays and and waited for us to pay at the end. Did I mentioned we were the only folks in the establishment aside from a couple who were clearly chewing their food and feeding it to eachother with their mouths.

The sheep roam near the mine fields at the Volkswagon plant. Clearly this field is "safe" since a shepard has led his flock onto it. These hefty beasts are large enough to trigger mines. Sheep who seemingly are "lamb of god" kind of animals are actually quite dirty and disgusting. I am considering throwing out all of my woolen sweaters.


They have finally started to demine the field next to our house, after some poor drunk chap stumbled into to the bushes to take a leak and "kamboom!!!". The yellow tape means they are in the the process of going over the field with a fine toothed comb to remove all the land mines planeted there. The general rule in Bosnia is do not walk on the grass. So much of the nature around us looks prestine and has been reclaimed by animals who frotic in delight that men have set traps for themselves, and not for the creature of the forest.